Despite approaching 38 years of age, Novak Djokovic remains one of the greatest tennis players of all time. After a year without winning any ATP titles, his level of play has not diminished. Djokovic set his ultimate goal for 2024 on winning the Olympic gold medal, and he achieved it. With this milestone, many fans and experts began to question whether now was the right time for Djokovic to retire.
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However, Djokovic has candidly shared his thoughts on retirement and even apologized to fans who have been waiting for him to step away from the sport. In an interview with La Nacion, Djokovic expressed that he still has the motivation to continue competing, especially in Grand Slam tournaments and the Davis Cup.
Djokovic Apologizes to Those Who Want Him to Retire
In the interview, Djokovic provided a more detailed response regarding his retirement plans. He said:
“This is a legitimate question. Deep inside, I feel I still have many Grand Slams to win. What motivates me to keep competing, especially in the Grand Slams, is the feeling that I can still be a top contender.“
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He also emphasized his love for representing Serbia in the Davis Cup, which plays a significant role in his decision to keep playing. Djokovic believes that tennis remains a platform for him to share important messages related to social issues and his legacy, and he continues to enjoy the process of competing.
Pressure from Expectations
There is no denying that Djokovic is under pressure from various angles. Having accomplished almost everything in his career, including completing the Grand Slam collection and winning an Olympic gold medal, some believe he should retire at the peak of his career. However, Djokovic holds a different perspective.
“Some people think I should retire while I’m at the top: ‘You’ve won the gold medal, you’ve achieved everything, now say goodbye.’ Some think I should continue as long as I feel I can still be a strong contender for the Grand Slams. I agree with that.”
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This reveals that, despite his age and long career, Djokovic still believes he can compete at the highest level. He also acknowledges that continuing to compete is not as easy as it used to be, especially now that he has a family and children.
Djokovic explained: “Traveling and finding motivation costs me more. It’s not easy. And even more so now that I have kids. I don’t want to be away from home for too long, but I’m still motivated. So, I apologize to those who want me to retire because they’ll have to deal with me for a little while longer.”
Comparison to Rafael Nadal
Djokovic’s statements have intensified following Rafael Nadal‘s announcement that he plans to retire soon. Nadal and Djokovic are two of the greatest players in tennis history, and when Nadal announced his upcoming retirement, many speculated that Djokovic might be considering the same.
However, Djokovic has not been influenced by Nadal’s decision. Instead, he remains focused on his own goals and feels that he still has plenty to offer in tennis.
Still a World-Class Player
Even without many titles in 2024, Djokovic is still one of the top players in the world. He reached the semifinals at the Australian Open, the final at Wimbledon, and won the Olympic gold medal. These achievements demonstrate that, even when not at his best, Djokovic continues to outperform most players.
Former tennis player Andy Roddick praised Djokovic, calling 2024 his “worst year” only by his incredibly high standards. Roddick remarked: “His worst year includes reaching the Australian Open semifinals, the Wimbledon final, winning Olympic gold, and reaching a Masters 1000 final. That would be a career year for most of us.”
No Rush to Retire
Ironically, Djokovic has set such high standards for himself that some view retirement as the only logical option. But the reality is, even at his worst, Djokovic is still playing better than most top players in the tournament.
With his strong fighting spirit and undiminished motivation, there’s no reason for him to leave tennis just yet. Novak Djokovic remains one of the best players in the world, and fans can rest assured that they will witness more remarkable moments from him in the future.
